Rain, wind fell hundreds of trees

BEIJING - Residents in picturesque Shichahai woke on Wednesday morning to find heavy rain and winds had brought down some 100 trees, damaging cars and houses.

Shichahai, which is located northeast of the Forbidden City and renowned for its preservation of ancient buildings and landscapes, was among the worst hit areas during the violent storm in the capital on Tuesday night.

Willow trees that used to decorate the landscape were uprooted and forced to the ground or into the river in busy streets along the riverbank.